Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1887-03-04
CHAPTER XII1.

CHAPTER XIII.
Mr.. Durnn's house In Berkeley snunro
IL presided over by his aunt-a little,
thin, wiry, kindly old lady. with cork
screw ringlcts aud high pcaky nose.
Her acquaintnnccs are M old fashioned
ns her curlD, but It Ia ainnzing how many
shc hns OF them. They nre OF tho rtaid,
cmlncntly respectable order, NIL able to
count their generations and nll "carrlupc
people" Yet II might bo admitted that
sometimes Miss Duran pings for tho
young and frivolous, and would ho ulnd to
welcome thcm inside her ncphcw's t,ourg
her doors, rs they might he called. uo
little docs he interfere with her arrange
mentS, aud so seldom does he show him
self between IL n. IN. and Il u. IN,
On this particular "Wednesday quito a.
Stir and biistlc of the thill silkcn skirts
take place, as Gerald Mrssarecne. r;;;,..'
Ing aud guy, cntcrn Miss Duran's draw
ing room. There is. IN spite OF the deb
onnlr mnnncr that distinguishes him.
and induces all these old young men TO
look nsknncc at him, aud grow green
with envy, and that causes the o,itc old
men Ia wink and nudge each oshSr. md
call him IN sad tog'--n suspclo:, of NIX
ieiy that renders hiR kind eyes mcI!B4Y
choly, and mnkes him a fnvorlto at once
with MI thc'gcntic, elderly women.
lie Is fashionable luoliinn younu
man. cxquisitcly dressed, and IL. I'm fnct'
such departure from Miss Durnn's
t, .-",r'ns room. that he crcntcs IN i'm
mrnso scnSntion, that is only 10 DO yur-
passed by the entrance OF q lovely young
womnn ten minutes aftcrw.iri, who
sweeps UP 10 Miss Duran with the most
charming smile In the world OH Lor beau
tiful face
"Denr Misg Duran" aho says, Rlpplng
her little gray clad hnnd into that of the
nstonisllcd spinstcr, 1--WE have been want
ing 10 como .unu see you. for such u time
-nnntic nnd but there hnvc been no
iiinhy other tircsomc engagements, And,
after nll, II Is better, Ia II not, to leave the
best To Tho lastf' tliH with II swift glance
nj Ainssarccne that sets his heart n-hrnt-
inH. "Evcn now we could not como
together; there was some nbsursl crush
somewhere, nnd we lind promised To 20,
50 told auntic wanted to see you even
more tiian she did; 80 packed her Off to
her AFTERNOON and cnine 10 minc.'
Her low trnnnnte voice, her pretty
smile, the gentle pressure 0f the little
bninl, all won Miss DURAN heart nj once.
She Ind met Millicent two or three
times, but now she pcrsundca herself TINT
they have been good friends for many
ycnrs. What lovely creature. How
nice OF her 10 come TO this dull old
ilonsc just 10 see n stupid old mnil! Dear.
dear me, there were not many who would
do thntl
Meantime the "lovcly creature" Is
taking her ten from Gerald Mnssnrccnc'a
hnnds. Ten of IN exquisite flavor nn'l
rich with country cream, sent tip spec
lally from the hcnrt of lIumpshrc for
Miss Dlirnn's Wednesdays. Ten served in
priceless old Crown Derby, before whicl.
the modern limitations might hold down
their hcnds.
"Sugnr'" asks Gerald In n society
tone; and then, considerably lower, "my
own daring"
"Ehs' says Miss Grey In return TO This
lmpnssioncd address, with startling
promptitude that Is rather da,plriting
In truth, having got here, no matter
how, and so acknowledged to AInssnrccne
that she has thought 10 worth her whilo
10 give up for MS sake one OF the most
brilliant concerns OF the senson, size Ia a
little frightened, little impatient md
yet II good dcnl glad.
"Milliccnt," says Gerald, dropping into
the chair ncnr her, "that you hnyc como
at all is 70 much more than dnrcd hope
for that would now cntrcat you 10 Let
my JOY continue by being kind TO me for
His tone ia very snd, In spite of the 10y
he mentions. Old Miss Duran, looking
kindly at tho two young people who
have descended into her midst and cast
such IL cloud Of sunshine upon tho dull,
stately drawing room. reads as clearly as
though II were NIL in print before her
that this young mnn-thc son Of llcr dead
cousin-is breaking his heart for love of
the pretty, slender girl staring 80 SOL
cmnly into her ten cup, and that the
pretty girl Is nst altogether indifferent
about it,
"I3lcss inc! And hear she ia to he
married to that nephew OF Lucy Brands
Well, to judge by her face, should say
her heart Is not in It. Poor young tliingsi
Evidently they have entered into the bliss
iul realms of love. Cupld's darts have
found n lodging in their tender breastslr
Sometimes Miss Duran, I'm spite OF the
ringlets, indulged in flights OF poetic
fancy. "iIow romantic! How full OF
pathos! Tint dear boy!-why, can see
him dwlndlng away before my eyes.
Quite wreck he Is becoming, though art
and his tailor may try TO dclndc me.
Well, must see what cnn be done. Ger
aid, my dear, do you think Miss Grey
would Ike to see that painting of your
great at-grandfather thGt adorns the west
wall of tho library 1t is well worth n
visit, assure you, my dear Miss Grey.
DO let Gerald pcrsnndc you to look nj it,
A masterpiece, ] assure you. One of
Lcly's brightest cifortsn
Come" says Gerald, III low cntrcat-
ing tone.
Millicent hcsitates for moment, and
ihen, according to custom, Is lost
She rises, gives her cup to him to lny
upon table near, and with n bright
smile and glance directed to her hostess
follows him cut of the room.
Although his spirits have risen almost
beyond his control. Mr.. Massurcouo be-
havcs himself wonderfully until tho hall
is crossed and the library gained. Then,
regret to say, he considerably forgcts
himself. IIc throws honor to the winds,
AMI taking Grant Boylc's nancce in his
LnIrna strai, . hor To hin hen-t